The London Allergy and Free From Show 2015

A review of the The London Allergy and Free From Show 2015.

On Friday 3rd July I travelled to Olympia for the London Allergy and Free From Show. Last year was my first time visiting the event and I was interested to see what new products would be on show.

I was pleased to see some new gluten and wheat free ice creams available. On our recent two-week holiday around the south west coast of England I had only managed to find suitable ice cream tubs in two places! Fingers crossed the ice creams from Sweet Rebellion and Jollyum get stocked in more places as they were very tasty.

The Jollyum Ice Creams were very nice

Earlier this year Emily visited Spain and brought me back some Sin Gluten goodies and so it was nice to see the team from Esgir at the show with their range of five gluten and wheat free products that are suitable for Coeliacs. I was so impressed that I bought some of the products.

A good haul from Esgir. I bought one of each of the products that include gluten free croutons, crunchy crumbs and choco snack sticks

I spotted some new gluten free beers from exhibitors including Estrella Damm Daura (with their new Märzen variety), the Wellington Bomber Porter beer from Glebe Farm, Outlook by Stringer's, and Hepworth & Co. While Green's have updated and refreshed its branding. I also got to try CELIA Lager's new Dark variety. Very nice it was too.

The brand new Märzen gluten free beer from Estrella Damm Daura. It tasted great

CELIA Dark was very nice. Martin from CELIA tells me it's a great beer to accompany autumn and winter meals too

The updated branding on the Green's Gluten Free Beers range

I enjoyed the new Wellington Bomber Porter from Glebe Farm

Check out my compilation blog post on all the gluten free beers, ales and lagers I've found since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease (the list currently stands at 89!).

Stringer's Outlook gluten free ale, one of the GF beers I'm yet to try

It was also good speaking with the team from Can I Eat There? and finding out more about their allergy and intolerance aware restaurant listings and review website.

I did feel that too many of the exhibitors at the event were trying to sell sell sell, rather than doing something a bit different to engage with the audience. The show offers from Esgir were very good, while many other stalls were selling at not much less than a supermarket price. Couple this with the fact that it was baking hot, and while in London people may not want to carry around lots of shopping (including raw meat, or frozen products) so it would be really nice to see the brands trying something new.

Another thought is that because the show is catering to so many different audiences (all with their own varied needs - some lifestyle, some medical) there will be some clashes. This was evident in some of the exhibitors who I know have products that are not suitable for Coeliacs due to manufacturing processes and/or potential cross-contamination - but are labelled as gluten and wheat free. I think that if you're going to offer gluten and wheat free you should go 100%. No half-measures. Granted, there are people with wheat intolerance and non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity etc. who may be fine after consuming these products, but there is a larger proportion who won't be. It leaves a Coeliac like myself with a bitter taste, to be tempted with GF & WF packaging, only to be let down when reading the small print.

As a 'veteran' Coeliac I check, double check and then check again before I take a bite or a sip of anything. Having been glutened on a number of occasions I know it's not worth the risk, so I hope some of the rookie Coeliacs at the show didn't make any errors, or get carried away, in their sampling.

The next food fair I'll be visiting is the Home Counties Gluten Free Food Fair organised by the Herts & Mid Beds Coeliac UK Volunteer Group. Hopefully there'll be lots of new and interesting gluten and wheat free products on show and to sample there.

To round off a very pleasant day in London Emily and I had another brilliant gluten free meal at Honest Burgers.

Check out the Allergy Show London website for more information on the event.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Home Counties Gluten Free Food Fair 2015
- The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
- Sin Gluten
- Gluten free beer

Links:
- Allergy Show London
- Coeliac UK

A special gluten free delivery from Udi's

It was very nice to recently receive a hamper of Udi's Gluten Free goodies.

The hamper included bagel chips, cake mix, soft baked cookies, muffins and more.

The Udi's Tiger Bloomer was Highly Commended in the Bread Category of the 2015 FreeFrom Food Awards

The Tiger Bloomer is very good - I had it to hold together a tasty filling of jerk pulled chicken and slaw that Emily cooked up. Sorry there's no photo as I'd got in late from a minigolf trip and wolfed it down!

Do check out my Gluten Free Journey blog on the Udi's website.

Udi's Gluten Free have been operating in the USA since 1994 and launched in the UK in 2013. Do visit the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA
- Udi's Gluten Free blog

Related blog posts:
- Udi's
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

My Gluten Free Journey

Check out my gluten free journey article on the Udi's website.

Enjoying a Coeliac-friendly gluten free meal while in Ayr last summer

Udi's Gluten Free have been operating in the USA since 1994 and launched in the UK in 2013. Visit the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

The Udi's Gluten Free Blog also has articles from other Coeliacs / Gluten Free people.

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Dinner time - a gluten free mystery meal

When you're a Coeliac what do you have at dinner (or tea) time?

Udi's gluten free asked on Facebook "Is your evening meal Dinner or Tea where you are? And more importantly....what are you making?"

Well, here in Leagrave (the sunny part of Luton) we call it dinner. When Udi's asked I didn't have a clue what we'd be having, but Emily obliged with the answer "It's turkey meatballs with tomato and basil sauce. All gluten free. Obviously."

And it was very good indeed. Absolutely delicious.

The rustic gluten free turkey meatballs with tomato & basil sauce, served with Gallo gluten free spaghetti 

As someone with Coeliac Disease every day can be a struggle to eat and drink safely. It can also be pretty stressful and annoying, so it's brilliant that Emily cooks up some brilliant gluten & wheat free meals for us to enjoy.

Check out the Facebook thread that started the discussion and have a look at the blog posts and links below for more information on the range of gluten free food from Udi's. They do some really great products.

My current favourite breakfast/brunch/lunch/snack/pudding is an Udi's gluten free Chocolate Chip Bagel, toasted and topped with a sliced banana.

Related blog posts:
- New products from Udi's Gluten Free
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Emily's cooking

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Facebook
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Twitter
- Riso Gallo
- Udi's Gluten Free USA
- Coeliac UK

New products from Udi's Gluten Free

Blog post about some of the new products available from Udi's Gluten Free.

At the recent Allergy and Free From Show in London I spotted some of the new gluten free products from Udi's Gluten Free.

Following feedback from customers since the UK launch in 2013 Udi's have launched 27 new gluten free products.

I was given samples of the new Soft n' Chewy Chocolate Banana Cereal Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Milk Chocolate Wafers by the Udi's team at the Allergy and Free From Show. So far I've had one of the chocolate banana bars, which was nice

Yesterday I received a nice surprise hamper from Udi's!

It's always nice to receive a surprise food hamper! Especially when you know all of the contents will be gluten free and suitable for coeliacs!

Last December I blogged about the first products launched in the Udi's Gluten Free range, and its going to be great trying the new products which all sound interesting and tasty.

In my pre-Coeliac Disease days, back when I was able to eat a 'normal' diet, I wasn't a big fan of bagels. However, that changed when I tried the Udi's Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The chocolate chip ones sound even better. Everything tastes better if its got chocolate in it!

The gluten free hamper contents were Soft & Tasty Chocolate Chip Bagels,Soft & Delicious Blueberry Muffins, Soft & Chewy Cherry Flavoured Breakfast Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Lemon Flavoured Wafers

I'll be scoffing my way through the new products in the coming weeks, I think i'll start with a toasted bagel, followed by a blueberry muffin...

Udi's Gluten Free launched here in the UK at the end of last year and have been operating in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

The Udi's philosophy is creating great gluten free foods that bring happiness. Read more of the Udi's story, from starting out in Colorado, USA in 1994 to the UK launch on the Udi's website.

Udi's Gluten Free was the headline sponsor of the recent Allergy & Free From Show at Olympia.

A wall of Udi's gluten free products at the Allergy and Free From Show in London, including some of the 27 new products added to the range

If you missed that event then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th & 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia

Visiting the Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia.

My haul of information and freebies from the Allergy and Free From Show

Today I visited day two of the three day Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia in London. The event had dozens of suppliers, thousands of free from products and tens of thousands of people with allergies, intolerances, sensitivities and autoimmune diseases, disorders and conditions (such as Coeliac Disease).

Among the thousands of 'free from' products at the event were many I hadn't seen or tasted before, such as those from Delicious Alchemy, Venice Bakery, Focaccia per Tutti and 1-2-3 Gluten Free.

The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia

I spent a good four hours checking out the stands, finding out product information and sampling food and drink. It was great to see some of my favourite gluten and wheat free brands at the show, including Celia Lager, Honeyrose Bakery, Eskal Foods, Kabuto Noodles, and the event's headline sponsor Udi's Gluten Free.

Udi's Gluten Free are the headline sponsor of the event and I picked up three of their products I haven't tried yet

I also really enjoyed speaking to a number of people who are really passionate about providing great quality (and interesting) food and drink for people with Coeliac Disease and getting info on their brands.

Visit the Allergy and Free From Show website for details on how to attend the third and final day.

The 2014 Allergy and Free From Show is co-locating with three other shows at Olympia and if you attend you can also visit the V Delicious, Love Natural Love Organic and The Back Pain Show.

If you can't make the final day of the 2014 London show then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th and 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Its going to take me a while to digest all the information from the event and I'll be writing more blog posts about my visit and all the great gluten & wheat free food and drink I tried and discovered at the show in the coming weeks.

I'm always keen to find out about gluten and wheat free brands that are suitable for people with Coeliac Disease so please do get in touch if you know of any, or are a producer/supplier.

Links:
- The Allergy and Free From Show
- Udi's Gluten Free
- Coeliac UK
- Gluten Free related blog posts on the Ham & Egger Files

Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free

New Coeliac Disease infographic from Udi's Gluten Free.

The team at Udi's Gluten Free have put out a new infographic with a range of facts about Coeliac Disease to coincide with Coeliac Awareness Week that is running from the 12th to the 18th of May.

The Udi's Gluten Free Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts infographic (click on the image to enlarge and also available to view here)

Udi's launched in the UK at the end of 2013 and have been in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for details of their range and stockists.

Further details about Coeliac Disease and Coeliac Awareness Week can be found on the Coeliac UK website and Twitter. May is also Celiac Awareness Month in the USA and Canada - check out the hashtag on Twitter.

Link:
- Udi's Gluten Free

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies

Finding out more about the new range of Udi’s gluten free food.

While shopping in the Dunstable branch of Tesco Emily and I spotted a new range of food in the Free From section of the supermarket.

A selection of the range of Udi's Gluten Free food that I've tried so far

The brand was Udi’s and recently launched in the UK. It’s been going strong in the USA since 1994.

One of the products in Udi’s range of gluten free food are the Rich n’ Fruity Mince Pies. This year I had my first mince pie of the festive season a little later than in 2012, but since that first mince pie in October I’ve bought (and scoffed) at least four more boxes!

The first of Udi's products I tried were the Mince Pies - back in October! Very festive.

On that shopping trip we also bought packs of the Udi’s Ancient Grain crisps – in both Jalapeno Cheddar and Aged Cheddar flavours.

Udi's Ancient Grain crisps also come in a very tasty Aged Cheddar flavour

After seeing “My first gluten free Mince Pie of the festive season” blog post the team at Udi’s got in touch to send me a hamper of their range, which was very much appreciated.

When I received the box of goodies from Udi’s the first product that caught my eye was the Chocolate Chip & Toffee Flavoured Muffins. And they tasted as good as they sound.

One of my favourites among the Udi's range - the Chocolate Chip & Toffee Flavoured Muffins

Next to be tried, though not on the same day, were the Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. While not a fan of bagels (I've always found them to be very dry, and haven't eaten one since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease) I found the Udi's ones to be very nice. They were helped by not being plain ones and as the packet says, they taste great toasted.

The Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The best I've tried.

Next out of the bag were the Toaster Pastries. These caught both me and Emily's eyes and brought back memories of pop tarts!

The most interesting of the Udi's range are the retro Toaster Pastries!

As we don't own a toaster we simply put them under the grill for a few minutes to heat them up to that perfect molten lava level before allowing them to cool a bit.

Emily is a fan of the Strawberry Flavoured ones, while I liked the Apple Cinnamon ones more, but would be equally happy with either for a breakfast treat.

The products Udi's sent through to me, and those we've seen in-store are just a selection of the range they are bringing to the UK.

Emily also recently bought a pack of the soft white Classic Finger Rolls and we’re going to use them with some frankfurters we found that were gluten free while shopping in Aldi last week.

Looking at Udi’s US website it’ll be interesting to see if the small and large Tortillas they offer will also be an item they’ll be bringing to these shore as we're big fans of Mexican food!

Check out the Udi’s website for details of the full range and to sign-up for the email newsletter. 

Related blog posts:

- My first gluten free Mince Pie of the festive season

- Gluten Free

- Coeliac

Links:

- Udi's Gluten Free UK

- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Twitter
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Facebook

- Udi’s Gluten Free USA

- Udi’s Gluten Free USA on Twitter

- Coeliac UK

My first gluten free Mince Pie of the festive season

Seeing in Christmas a bit too early with a new Gluten Free Mince Pie from Udi’s.

While shopping at our local Tesco last night Emily and I spotted the new range of food from Udi’s Gluten Free. We hadn’t heard of them before and so bought some of the items to give them a try.

The new Udi's Gluten Free Mince Pies - one product in the brand's new range of gluten and wheat free food for Coeliacs

One of the range is Udi’s Rich n’ Fruity Mince Pie and they are the first Gluten and Wheat Free Mince Pies I’ve seen on sale yet.

One of the four Rich n' Fruity Mince Pies

Although it is a bit later than the first Mince Pie of the season I had last year – that was on the 5^th of October!

The Udi's Mince Pie is opened up with a pastry fork (my nephew thinks it's hilarious to use a fork to eat dessert)

The Udi’s Mince Pie was rich and fruity and of the more ‘flatter and home-made’ look type of mince pies, rather than the more identikit look. At first glance it didn’t look too full of filling, but it was full of flavour and the icing dusted pastry did hold up well – always a good sign with gluten and wheat free pastry.

I’d recommend them to fellow Coeliacs.

May I take this opportunity to wish all the readers of the Ham & Egger Files a very Merry Christmas.

Related Blog Posts:

- Seeing in the start of the 'festive season' with a gluten free Mince Pie

- Christmas
- Gluten Free

Links:

- Udi's Gluten Free

- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Twitter

- Coeliac UK